James C. Holycross

James Cecil Holycross of Griffith passed away on January 24 after a short illness. A much-loved father, stepfather, grandfather, and great grandfather, Jim was a retired railroader who worked for the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad for 44 years. He was an athlete all of his life. He played both baseball and basketball in high school; the local newspaper referred to him as his school’s “ace.” After the Army, Jim played baseball in an industrial league in northwest Indiana. Later, he joined the IHSAA and became a basketball referee and baseball umpire, officiating at state championships several times. Jim was also an avid traveler, camper, and legendary admirer of national parks; he managed to visit forty-nine of the fifty states in his life and a countless number of ballparks. An exacting craftsman, Jim enjoyed refurbishing furniture, and to this day his kids can immediately identify the smell of Zip Strip.

Jim was a true Regionite from the time he and his first wife, Joann, settled in Highland in 1957. He moved to Griffith when he married his second wife, Charlotte, in 1984. He was a pool shark in his younger days, a square dancer in later life, and an enthusiastic card player all of his life. Everyone knew him for his stories, his unflagging status as a Cubs fan, and his perfectly landscaped yard. Jim was a man of boundless optimism, hard work, and gentle kindness who will be sadly missed by all who knew him. 

Jim is survived by his children, James S. Holycross, Beth (Tony) Crachiolo, and Vicki (Jim) Vaughn; his nephew Clinton (Cindy) Holycross; his stepchildren Robert McClain, Michael (Barbara) Chandler, Veronica McClain, and Jeffrey (Kelley) Chandler; his grandchildren Jeremy (Farrah) McClain, Cherylynn (Tommy) Hernandez, Vincent (DeAnna) Chandler, Zachary (Savana) Chandler, Nicholas Chandler, Aaron (Ange) Zuidema, Jordan (Amber) Zuidema, Jozef (Mickhalia) Zawacki, Thomas, Dorey, Ethan, and Liam Chandler; 11 great-grandchildren; and his little Princess, Ladybug the Cat, who will now be moving in with his daughter, Beth.

Friends are invited to visit with family at White Funeral Home on Sunday, January 29, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at White Funeral Home on Monday, January 30, at 12:30. Jim will be interred next to his wife, Charlotte, at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens in Schererville, IN.

For additional information please contact us at (219) 924-4100 or visit us at www.whitefuneralhomeofgriffith.com

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